Beijing: A global pact that has been rejected by the United States to regulate the sale of arms is soon to be joined by China. Beijing stated that it is committed to efforts for “enhancing peace and stability” in the world.
Currently, China stands as the second largest arms producer in the world, behind the US, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute at a study in January.
The Communist Party leadership’s top legislative body voted Saturday to adopt a decision on joining the UN Arms Trade Treaty that is designed to control the flow of weapons into conflict zones.
Last year, US President Donald Trump announced the United States out of this agreement — which entered into force in 2014.
The reporters were told that joining this treaty was “another important measure for China to support multilateralism” by Zhao Lijian, China’s foreign ministry spokesman. He added that the country would make a “continuous effort to maintain and enhance peace and stability in the world and region”, and that China has “always strictly controlled the export of military products”
At a regular briefing, Zhao said that China only exports such products to sovereign countries and not to non-state actors. It is among a number of international agreements reached under the Obama administration that Trump has moved to pull out of. The US Senate never ratified the 2013 Arms Trade Treaty after former president Barack Obama endorsed it, and Trump has said he would revoke his predecessor’s signature.
The treaty requires member countries to keep records of international transfers of weapons and to prohibit cross-border shipments that could be used in human rights violations or attacks on civilians.